Carbureting apparatus.



FLS. OUVER,

CARBURETING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-7.1914.

1 91%6,%1 a A I PatentedJuly 13, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

I "I M I, M a

I I! I BY iii 4 5g;-

F. S. OLIVER. CARBURETING APPARATUS. APPLICATION man OCT. 1, 1914.

1,146 441 Patented July 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOR JZMMW ATTORNEY FEEDS. PLIVER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CARLBURETING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.v

Patented July 13, 11915,

Application filed October 7, 1914. Serial No. 865,496.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED S. OLIVER, a subject of the King of England, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Carbureting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to air carbureting apparatus, and pertains to an apparatus of the type disclosed in my Patent #l,108,081, dat d August 18, 1914.

t is an object of the present invention to provide an automatically operating and safe apparatus for generating a combustible mixture from liquid hydrocarbons, such as gaso lene. It is a particular object of the present in vention to provide in such an apparatus means for supplying air under suitable pressure, and to provide a carbureting chamber and means for supplying a volatile liquid thereto, means for automatically maintaining a charge of predetermined level of the liquid, and a safety means for controlling the flow of liquid through the chamber, said last means being controlled by the flow of air from the air supplying means.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a general diagrammatic view of the apparatus with parts in sectional detail. Fig. 2 is a detail of the pneumatically operated liquid control valve. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the automatic, pneumatic regulator valve.

In my above mentioned patent, the feed of gasolene to the carbureting chamber was permitted periodically under the control of a rising and falling gasometer, as 2, whereas my present invention provides for the control of fuel flow by means operated by air '45 pressure so that when air at suflicient pressure is provided, the means permit flow of fuel oil, and when there is an insufliciency of air then the flow 'of oil is interrupted, thus preventing flooding of the apparatus.

The present invention includes a gas/ometer tank 2, mounted in a water seal 3, and having a discharge pipe 4 and an inlet or feed pipe 5 with a check valve 6 to prevent the return of the carbureted air therethrough; the gasometer 2be1ng-pr0v1ded with-removable and variable weights 7' for valve 26.

the determination of the pressure of the mixture discharged from the gasonieter. The pipe 5 is connected at its upper end with a collecting chamber 10 that .is provided with a cowl 11, the lower horizontal flange of which cowl is disposed close to the plane of the normal level of a volatile liquid there- 1n, any excess ofwhich, above the normal level, will be returned by an overflow pipe 12 to a tank 13, which may be mounted in the ground or at some suitable location with relation to the apparatus. Tank 13 is in communication with the carbureted air collecting chamber 10 through means of a pipe 14 joined to the lower end of a carbureting chamber 15, thus providing for equalization of air pressure in each.

The carbureting chamber may be of suit able height and diameter, and is provided with a multiplicity of vertically superposed, conical, perforated drain shelves 16, with central apertures at their bottom edges through'which extends upwardly a sectional supply or feed pipe 17-17' upon which is securely mounted conical deflectors 18, o

somewhat less diameter than the diameter of the chamber 15, so that a spaceis formed between the perimeter of the deflectors 18 and the adjacent walls of the chamber. The feed pipe 1717 is provided with a multiplicity of apertures 19 which, preferably, decrease gradually in size from the top down along the feed pipe. The upper part 17 of the feed pipe is in communication with a thermostatic valve 20 which is connected to a feed chamber 21. The feed chamber 21 is connected to one side of the collecting chamber 10 and is in free liquid communication therewith.

'At the top of pipe 17 is a valve seat 22 which receives a spindle valve 23 which has an upwardly projecting stem with a plate or piston 24, below which is disposed a collar 25 of the chamber 15. The valve 23 is provided to open and close the outlet at the valve seat 22 below the regulator valve 20. The lower part of the pipe section 17' is closed and acts as a guide for the stem of a valve 26 which seats in the upper end of the lower pipe 17 which is supported by an an nular cup '27 and which has a central flue 27, above the rim of which is a plate or piston secured to the stem of valve 26. Oil collecting in cup 27 is conveyed, through brace tubes 28, to the pipe 17 at the seat of to the oil pipe and oppositely As the blower starts up. the current of air rising between the deflectors 16 and 18 first acts against the lower piston valve 26 and opens it and then against the upper valve 23 and opens it, thus allowing a quantity of gasolene'to flow into the nozzle pipe from :21 in which a head of the valve '20 and tank gasolene is constantly held. It will be seen that if there is an insufficiency of air current in the carbureter 15, then the valves 2'2-2(3 will automatically close and prevent flooding of the chamber, which effect is very desirable in automatic machines of this class.

By perforating the shelves 16 both sides of each become wetted and thus increases the evaporating area. By introducing the intermediate collecting cup 27, this serves to catch a quantity of oil which is fed past valve 26 to the lower pipe 17, thus providing a two-stage carbureting chamber.

In order to maintain the desired quantity of oil in the head chamber 21 at a given level and at. the same time not cause its overflow 12 of the chamber 10, there the head chamber 21 a float 30, connected to a lever 31 of a valve 32 opening outwardly from the chamber 21 and closing upon a seat 33, when the float 30 rises, and thus shutting off incoming oil from a supply pipe 31 which is connected to a source of supply or drum 35. It is to be understood that the drum 35, while here shown as arranged underground or in a safe position with relation to the apparatus, may be arranged overhead and at a suitable disposition so long as suflicient pressure can be obtained to feed the liquid as rapidly as desired to the carburetein. The top of the chamber 10 may have a partition, as shown, between float 30 and cowl 11 to provide a float compartment in which the float is guided in its up and down movements.

Since the present arrangement shows the source of supply or drum 35 as underground or below the level of the head tank 91, suitable means are shown, as an air pipe 36, by which air under pressure is conveyed to the drum from a compressor 37, of suitable type, which may derive power from the motor 33 of any suitable character. The motor 38 is also utilized to drive a suitable air feed mechanism. here shown as a blower 39 having a relief valve 40 automatically operable to open when a normal or desired pressure is exceeded. The blower 39 has a discharge tube 41 which discharges air into the lower end of the carbureting chamber 15, the air rising in circuitous paths upwardly through the drum as it passes the several superpose inclined deflectors and bafflers 16-1S, down each of which the thin films of volatile oil will flow as discharging from the feed apertures 19 in the nozzle of the supply pipe 17. The rising column of is mounted in air evaporates the volatile liquid and passes into the chamber 10 as it issues from the open upper end of the carbureting chamber 15 and rises past the downwardly turned cowl 11, which tends to throw down the heavier contents of moisture in the rising column of air which has been enriched by the liquid and passes thence from the chamber 10 through the pipe 5 into the gasometer 2.

The automatic charging of the gasometer 2 in proportion to the volume of carbureted air discharged therefrom is accomplished by means controlled by the rise and fall of the gasomcter 2, which means operate to cut out the motor 38, thus stopping the operation of the blower 39 which forces air through the carbureting chamber 15, and also stopping the compressor 37 which generates pressure in the reservoir drum 35 to lift the oil to the head chamber 21. This means for automatically throwing out the blower and compressor comprises a connecting device, here shown as a cable 45, connected to the bell and passing through suitable guide sheaves 46, the lower end of the cable being provided with a rod or other suitable member -17, weighted at its lower end 48 and carrying stop collars 49 adjustably mounted and spaced on the rod 47. These collars *9 are adapted to move and throw a lever 50 which is mounted upon a pivot-shaft 51, the lever having angularly'spaced lugs 52 adapted to engage a trip device or weight 53 loosely mounted on the spindle 51. The device 53 has lugs 54: engageable with adjacent portions of a walking beam or actuator 55, pivoted upon the shaft 51, one end of the actuatof' 55 being connected by a link 56 to a lever 57, pivoted at 58 upon a suitable support or portion of a frame supporting the head tank 21. The lever 57 is connected at its opposite end to a link 59, which in turn is joined to a member 60 for controlling the motor 38 of whatever type it may e.

The operation of the automatic cut-out mechanism is as follows: When the gasometer rises toward its highest position, the cable or connection 45 permits the rod portion 47 to descend, so that the upper collar 49 will engage the upwardly inclined lever 50 and gradually swing this downwardly. One of the stops 52 on the lever 50 will engage the throw-over or weight 53, carrying it to a substantially vertical position, where it will freely gravitate around the pivot or shaft 51 and engage the opposite lug 5'2 on the lever 50; the gravitating motion of the weight 53 throw in" the lever down and rocking the lever 5 which in turn will, through means of the link 59, throw the motor controller 60 to cut out power to the motor 38, thus stopping the operation of the blower 39 and the air compressor 37. As the mixture is exhausted from the buoyant gasblower 39,

ometer 2 the latter will gravitate downwardly and, through means of the connection 45, will lift the rod 47,'so that the lower collar 49 thereon will be brought into operative engagement with the now downwardly inclined lever 50. This is moved upwardly meanwhile engaging and lifting the weight or device 53, carrying it again into vertical position, from which it will automatically gravitate about the pivot 51 and swing into actuating contact with the adjacent or right-hand side of lever 55 and throw this quickly so as to rock the lever 57 for opening the motor controller 60.

The richness of the mixture will be varied by the quantity] of oil, passing through the thermostatic regulator valve 20 from the feed chamber 21 to the carbureter chamber 15 and irrespective of the amount passing through the float valve upon any variation in atmospheric temperature. .The float 30 will automatically ,operatethe valve 32 to open or close the feed pipe 34, thus maintaining a substantially constant level and the desired quantity of oil in the feed cham-- ber 21. By maintaining an equalized pres sure of air between the tank 13 and the tank 10, the excess oil will flow freely from the feed tank 21, through the overflow pipe 12, to the tank 13. In order to prevent any re turn of liquid in the feed pipe 34, or air in the air pipe 36, these are each provided with respective check valves 34: and 36.

This apparatus is simple in construction, automatically operable and the carbureting chamber 15 is provided with safety valves operated by pneumatic pressure, thereby avoiding any chance of flooding owing to a failure of power for the operating motor. While a discharge of mixture from the falling gasometermay be had while the motor is idle, if the controller 60 is thrown open by the actuator 55 and there is no force present at the controller to start the motor, then, owing to an absence of air from the the valves 22-26 will remain closed.

A further precautionary device against fire consists of a relief valve connected to the oil drum This valve is held closed by a wire or other device which is connected to a soft fuse 71 disposed in the room in which the apparatus is installed. When the temperature in the room reaches a predetermined degree, the fuse melts and the valve 70 opens, relieving air pressure in the tank and thus stopping the supply of oil to the head tank 21. The thermostatic valve is adjustable to permit a free flow of oil during a predetermined atmospheric temperature and to gradually cut down the flow as the temperature rises,'say 80 up, thus prevent ing too rich a mixture during high temperature periods.

Having thus described my invention, what operated means of the valve ratus with a source of supply of a volatile liquid, of a carbureting chamber with superposed bafiles, upper and lower liquid distributing nozzles projecting through the bafides, an intermediate collecting cup between the nozzles, pneumatically operated valves controlling the flow of liquid fromsaid source and the cup to the nozzles, and means for sending an air current through the chamber for vaporizing the liquid and opening the valves.

3. In an apparatus for carbureting air, a vertical carbureting chamber, a pair of alined upper and lower vertical perforated Oll pipes in said chamber each having a valve seat, said pipes having their adjacent ends spaced, a valve fofeach seat having air operated means, the air operated means of the valve of the lower pipe extending up into the said space between the pipes, the air of the upper pipe extending above the latter, means to feed air to the base of the chamber, and means to feed oil to the upperpipe above the valve thereof.

4. In an apparatus for carbureting air, a vertical carbureting chamber, a pair of alined upper and lower vertical perforated oil pipesin said chamber each having a valve seat, said pipes having their adjacent ends spaced, a valve for each seat having air operated means, the air operated means of the valve of the lower pipe extending up into the said space between the pipes, the air operated means of the valve of the upper pipe extending above the latter, a drip cup underlying the first named valve operated means and having a'flue disposed in spaced relation to the said means and beneath the latter, means to feed air to the base of the chamber, and means to feed oil to the upper pipe above the valve thereof.

ii an apparatus for carbureting air, a carbureting chamber having a top outlet,

means for feeding air under pressure to the -the oil, means responsive to 6. In an air 'carbureting apparatus, a carbureting chamber, means for feeding air under pressure to the chamber, a sectional oil pipe in the chamber, means to convey oil from one pipe section to the other independent valves for the pipe'sections, air operated means for actuating each-valve, and means to feed oil to the pipe above the uppermost valve.

7. In an air carbureting apparatus, a car bureting chamber, means for feeding air under pressure to the chamber, means to feed oil to the chamber, means to distribute the air pressure variations for controlling the oil feed, separate means to receive and distribute oil from the first named distributing means, and means within the chamber independent of the first named oil feed control and responsive to the air pressure variations for controlling the feed of oil to said separate means.

8. In combination with a carbureter Copies of this patent may be obtained for of the feeding means,

'ber, and means to convey lower oil feeding means, independent airoperated means to separately control each and means to collect oil emitted by the upper feeding means and to convey same to the lower feeding means.

9. In combination with a carbureter chamber, an upper oil feeding means, a lower oil feeding means, independent airoperated means to separately control each of the feedingmeans, means to collect oil emitted by the upper feeding means and to convey same to the lower feeding means, means tofeed air to the base of the chamair past the collecting means and to direct same against the air operated controlling means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN H. HERRING, W. IV. HEALEY- five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G." 

